LOWER GWYNEDD — The soon-to-be vacant Dow Chemical Co. site may not stay empty for long after a zoning change was approved.

During its Sept. 24 meeting, the Lower Gwynedd Township Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to the permitted uses of the zoning district where the Dow building lies, allowing for multi-tenant buildings. The amendment now allows multiple businesses to inhabit the 133-acre Dow building site — located at 727 Norristown Road, Spring House, and formerly known as the Rohm & Haas building — which increases the chance of attracting a new tenant to the facility.

“It’s a very simple amendment in the D-1 special use district, which is primarily known for the Dow campus, that multi-tenant office buildings would here after be permitted rather than just single tenant,” said township Solicitor James Garrity. “That zoning was done a long time ago in the late ’70s or early ’80s. (Dow) had specifically requested single tenant, but now that they’re leaving, the use of the property probably requires multi-tenant and that is the one and only simple change we’re making to that district, which also impacts the F-1 district because all uses permitted in D-1 are also permitted in F-1.”

In July, Dow officially opened a new facility in Upper Providence Township, and began the yearlong process of transferring its employees to the new location while slowly phasing out the Lower Gwynedd location, which it had used for the past 50 years. The task for Lower Gwynedd Township officials and state representatives was to quickly find a replacement tenant in order to help support local schools through property taxes.

During the Upper Providence location’s dedication, state Rep. Kate Harper, R-61, a resident of Lower Gwynedd, said she was able to introduce Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett to board Chairwoman Kathleen Hunsicker, who was there alongside Township Manager Larry Comunale.

Harper had said Hunsicker took her brief time with the governor to express her desire to form a government action team that could provide economic development grants to redevelop the site for a new business in order to create jobs.

The township needs to market the site to a business that will bring jobs to the area, Harper explained. Then, if there is a need for economic development money for improvements, “we would ask the governor for that.”

State Rep. Todd Stephens, R–151, also promised to help find a new tenant for the building as part of a revitalization plan he recently announced.

During a recent interview, Stephens stated he felt marketing was the key to finding a new tenant.

“It was so important to get the (state Department of Community and Economic Development) Secretary (C. Alan Walker) and his team down to the site,” Stephens said. “If they’re the ones getting calls from companies overseas wanting to establish facilities in Pennsylvania, they need to know that site is a terrific opportunity.”

Stephens added the facility in Lower Gwynedd is an ideal location for employers given its proximity to Route 309, which then leads to 476, the Philadelphia Airport, parts of Philadelphia, east to New Jersey and west to Harrisburg.

“The secretary drove by the site to see exactly what we’re talking about,” he said. “He called and said it was a terrific opportunity. You can get anywhere you need to go, it’s a terrific opportunity. In addition to transportation, there is a very well-educated workforce in that area with college and advanced degrees. Marketing will let the world know that the site is available and all the great amenities that are available.”